Sam Groth and Nicole Gibbs are giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional tennis all year long in My Tennis Life. To read more updates from Sam and Nicole, go to tennischannel.com.

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Faced with a difficult career-changing decision, these final months of the 2017 tennis season were very challenging for frequent flyer Sam Groth. While spending some much needed quality time with his family back home in Australia, he announced he'll retire from tennis after the Australian Open.

To close the year, the 30-year-old added a new member to his growing family, a labrador puppy named Lulu.

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